ll swear, he had no hand in the matter."

"Very well, my young lady, I have no doubt you think, and honestly
believe, all that you say; but what reasons have you for this bold
assertion in the teeth of all the testimony which has already been
given? You must not be surprised, if we are slow in believing what you
tell us, until you can show upon what grounds you make your statement.
How know you that the prisoner did not commit this crime? Do you know
who did? Can you reveal any facts for our knowledge? This is what you
must do. Do not be terrified--speak freely--officer! a chair for the
lady--tell us all that you know--keep nothing back--remember, you are
sworn to speak _the truth_--the _whole truth_."

The judge spoke kindly and encouragingly, while, with considerable
emphasis, he insisted upon a full statement of all she knew. But the
distress of the poor girl increased with every moment of thought, which
warned her of the predicament in which such a statement must necessarily
involve her uncle. "Oh, how can I speak all this? How can I tell that
which must destroy him--"

"Him?--Of whom do you speak, lady? Who is _he_?" inquired the attorney
of the state.

"He--who?--Oh, no, I can say nothing. I can tell you nothing. I know
nothing but that Mr. Colleton is _not_ guilty. He struck no blow at
Forrester. I am sure of it--some other hand--some other person. How can
you believe that he would do so?"

There was no such charitable thought for him, however, in the minds of
those who heard--as how should there be? A whispering dialogue now took
place between the judge and the counsel, in which, while they evidently
looked upon her as little better than demented with her love for the
accused, they still appeared to hold it due to justice, not less than to
humanity, to obtain from her every particular of testimony bearing on
the case, which, by possibility, she might really have in her
possession. Not that they really believed that she knew anything which
might avail the prisoner. Regarding her as individually and warmly
interested in his life, they looked upon her appearance, and the
evidence which she tendered--if so it might be styled--as solely
intended to provoke sympathy, gain time, or, possibly, as the mere
ebullition of feelings so deeply excited as to have utterly passed the
bounds of all restraining reason. The judge, who was a good, not less
than a sensible man, undertook, in concluding this conference, to pursue